American Bandstand

"It's got a great beat, and you can dance to it." TV's first rock 'n' roll program--hosted by the charismatic and clean-cut Dick Clark, a disc jockey from Philadelphia--captured what was hip and the happenin' when it came to the teenage world of dance and music. American Bandstand is ABC-TV's longest-running afternoon show, and throughout its thirty year run the format stayed virtually the same (with the exception of moving the set from Philly to L.A.). There were the bleachers full of beaming teens waiting for their fave pop-star to come onstage, lip synch his or her latest hit, and then be interviewed by Clark. There were the roving camera shots capturing these trendy-dressed teens dancing to popular tunes. (Many home viewers learned how to dance by imitating the Bandstand regulars.) There were the "Rate-a-Record" segments that had four kids grading the "danceability" of a new song on a scale of 35 (bad) to 98 (good). There was the countdown of the week's Top Ten records, the Solo Spotlight couples dance, and the highly touted yearly Dance Contest, in which viewers wrote in to cast ballots for their favorite couple. Why, even Dick Clark stayed the same--perpetually youthful--earning him the label of "America's Oldest Teenager."

American Bandstand was the inspiration for every teen dance show since its first ariring in 1957--Hullabaloo, Shindig, Soul Train, Dance Party U.S.A., and MTV's Grind--and found itself spoofed by John Water's irresistible feature film Hairspray (1988). "Bandstand Boogie" was the instrumental theme of the series, performed by Les Elgart and his orchestra and later revamped with words by Barry Manilow.

Here is a collection of great pictures of American Bandstand's disco era. Most are courtesy of Disco Hal. Additions or suggestions to this set are welcomed. Please contact
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Pop Culture - Afro

Afro

"Black Power!" Fashionable in the late 1960s and 1970s, this kinky, round rairdo symbolized liberation for African-Americans wearey of having their hair painstakingly straightened to imitate flat Caucasian styles. The name came from the wearer's pride in his or her African cultureal heritage. So Popular was the Afro, by the end of the 1970s, that white celebs like barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Ali MacGraw , and Anthony "Luke Spencer" Geary mad ethe mistake of perming their hair into tight, frizzy Afros--a.k.a Anglo-fros!

Pop Culture - Bell Bottoms

Bell Bottoms

A style of pants, mega-fashionable in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, that got its name from its unique bell shape (tight from the waist to the thighs, flared from the knees to the bottom). Two general rules for wearing bell-bottoms: the wider the bell, the cooler the wearer; and legs long enough so your shoes won't show (otherwise you like like a geek wearing highwasters).

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